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Barack Obama’s favorability ratings among white women has declined significantly in recent months, particularly among Democrats and independents, presenting an immediate obstacle for the likely Democratic nominee as he moves to shore up his party’s base.

Forty-nine percent of white women view Obama unfavorably, while only 43 percent hold a favorable opinion. In February, 36 percent of these women viewed Obama unfavorably, while 56 percent had a positive perception of the likely Democratic nominee.

Over the same period, Democratic white women’s negative view of Obama increased from 21 percent to 35 percent, while their positive view decreased from 72 percent to 60 percent — roughly the same rate as white women overall.

White men, in general and among Democrats, have shown only a slight drop-off in their perception of Obama — one-third of the shift seen in white women. About 20 percent of Democratic white men have an unfavorable view of Obama, a figure which has remained stable since February.

Pew also found that among self-described Clinton supporters, the negative shift against Obama is more severe among women than among men.

The Pew findings come as Obama’s campaign struggles to close up the primary race while also attempting to avoid the perception of pushing Hillary Rodham Clinton out, for fear of offending her most loyal supporters — the largest bloc of which are white women.

Still unknown is whether white women’s support for Clinton would translate into problems for Obama in the general election.

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Intraparty divisions that arise during the primary season are typically mended over the course of the general election. Bill Clinton struggled with college-educated Democrats in the 1992 primary, as John F. Kerry did with young Democratic voters in the early stages of the 2004 race. Both candidates won back these blocs in the general election.

But the Democratic primary race of 2008 is without modern precedent, insofar as black support for Obama and white female support for Clinton are tied up in the symbolism of each candidate’s historic presidential bid.

“There is some sense of the visceral investment with Clinton,” said Celinda Lake, a Democratic strategist. Lake believes once the general election is under way, these same white women will gradually move away from McCain over issues, with the expectation that Clinton will campaign on Obama’s behalf if he is the nominee.

White women as a whole now prefer John McCain over Obama, by 49 percent to 41 percent. Last month, Obama was ahead of McCain among white women, 49 percent to 46 percent. The head-to-head matchup between McCain and Obama has not significantly shifted among white men.

“There is no question that white women were — especially older women, not young women — Hillary Clinton’s base in the primary, and there is going to be some repair work that has to be done,” Democratic analyst Anna Greenberg said. “There is no reason to believe that these Democratic white women are not pursuable.

“The priority is going to be to bring back these voters,” Greenberg added.

Kellyanne Conway, a Republican pollster who has worked with Lake on surveys of women, said that “the steady shift of white women away from Barack Obama” could prove “enduring heading into November.”

“These women have two issues at the top of their agenda that require experience and reasonableness — war and economy,” Conway said. “For many of these women, when they hear Barack Obama talk about change they hear revolution, not incrementalism."

Conway believes that McCain has particular strengths with these women that allow him to be viewed as independent of the Republican brand.

“Those women will likely vote Democratic down ballot,” she added. “This race is now Barack Obama vs. John McCain.”

Democrats have come closest to capturing the White House by winning minorities by large margins and nearly splitting white women, as they did in 2000. Republicans have generally relied on their dominance with white men to put them in the White House, while winning at least half the vote among white women.

Hillary\Bill will stump for Obama this fall and heal the party back together.....I know its hard for Hillary supporters to stop and just give but the fact remains that some has to win and someone has to lose and the math is over for Hillary...........Sorry but thr truth is the math and delegates.......She lost.......

Some could make the case that Hillary Clinton set Feminism and Equility for Women back 50 years by staying with a Man who continued to cheat on her. Why would she stay with him? Love? Future Political Gain? I am actually shocked that more women support her than support a Man that is actually faithful and loving to his Wife.

With all the hate being pushed out by the Billary Camp and the Clintonazis towards any woman who "would Dare" Vote against HER it is no wonder!!!!!!!!! . I saw an Obama supporter wearing a campaign t-shirt being verbaly harrassed by three women in Macy's On tuesday. Taunts of "traitor", and "Obambai" were the most common. I, a REPUBLICAN, finally came to the womans defense. Of course by the time I was done verbally berating the "witches three" for their harrassment security asked all of us to leave. Yeah, I really want this country to be in the hands of a woman and her supporters who are this unstable!!!! And Here is an open call to all OBAMA supporters. IF THAT ***** BILLARY STEALS THE NOMINATION FROM OBAMA YOU ARE ALL WELCOME OVER IN REPUBLICAN LAND!!!!! The Democrats have used and abused the minority voters for their own gain for too long!!! NO Billary! No Lies!!

Well Obama behaves like a jerk toward Hillary. He flips her off ON CAMERA twice after the PA debate and WE HILLARY SUPPORTERS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO NOTICE? This is called denial. Women, particularly older women, have been dissed frequently by the power establishment, usually men and some women, and we don't like it. Not difficult at all to understand assuming you haven't drunk the Obama Kool Aid.

They are bitter. Obama stopped the dream. What else did he do in between other than try to win contests? Clinton is disgusting, I don't know how any woman can back this woman. No wonder men think they can get away with anything with women like her.

Unbelievable! It is so apparent that people are not voting on the issues but rather, gender in this case. How can someone who identifies with and supports Hilliary's stand on the issues move to a vote for McCain over Obama? I am a strong Obama supporter and have been from the beginning (also a white woman, not that it should matter) and if Hillary were to end up with the nomination I would back her 100%. I don't get it. If your candidate doesn't win you want another 100 years in Iraq? Okay.... makes sense to me...

People you really can't grasp an article, let alone statistics. If a favorable rating of 43% from White Women were normalized it would account for millions who have voted to get this guy nominated. It also means even more won't get this guy nominated.

This is reverse sexism, only you are too politically correct to call it that. I, as a practicing misogynist, refuse to allow women to "bully" me with their psychological manipulation and exploitation. So this looks to me like women trying to punish Obama because Hillary couldn't win. Obama's effusive praise of Hillary blunted some of this antipathy, but what if he had said what many of his supporters feel; that Hillary deceives and spins and manipulates to get her way. I really don't care what these people think, they are just sore losers.

Why is the article title tilted towards Obama as a victim of white women's coldness? The article titled could have been "Obama struggles to connect with white women voters" -- which is closer to the truth. That would still apply to the article yet not put the negative balance on "white women" and instead question Obama's viability as the best choice for all of the people when he cannot bridge a connection and understanding with the populous as a whole. It is continually amazing, the nuance of the headlines that tilt the positive toward Obama, and the negative to any one against him. If one opens there eyes the bias has so permeated the media they are not even aware of it anymore, or scarier version so sinister that do not care.

Yes, and we vote regularly. We can't be won over...because there is no one to win us over. We've seen the way Senator Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro were treated by the Obama campaign. I saw Senator Obama strutting across the stage talking about "Annie Oakley". What he and Axelrod did to Geraldine Ferraro was beyond the pale. Of course that was when Obama was defending his pastor...before he disowned him. No one spoke up about this...except Senator Shuster. We won't be swayed by the old chestnut...of appointments to the Supreme Court. NARAL bailed on us. They don't deserve our support. We will support Senator Clinton through the convention ...and then if she is not the nominee...many of us will happily vote for Senator McCain. Senator Obama is unelectable.

HRC has accomplished is bringing out the fear of misinformed middle aged white women and elderly white people. This is generational and major progress has been made with the young. I?m a 39yr old mixed race mother of 3. I hang out with middle aged white mom?s when my boys have their yearly sports activities. Like a little mouse I have been listening to tid- bits of their opinions on Obama, HRC and McCain. HRC has succeeded in brain washing. Of course always prefaced with ?I'm not prejudice or anything" but "Oh he's a Muslim" or the very popular ?The whole ?REV Wright really scares me" All of HRC code words. While I'm glad that they share their thoughts w/me, inside my brain, An Asian, Mexican, White mom who lives in their cushy white neighborhood? "what do they really think of me"? Once a mom was asked where can I get a mexican for cheap, I have yard work? Don?t look at me!

I am surprised by the Obama supporters reaction to this article. Are you not able to acknowledge that there are some people who just don't like Obama? I don't think all white women dislike Obama because Hillary made them do it, that disallows the idea that woman can think for themselves. It is possible to not like or not want to vote for Obama, we still have that right in this country. If he had the support of the masses as he does with the bloggers he would have had the nomination sewn up long ago.